Kenya has secured a series of strategic international digital partnerships aimed at expanding internet connectivity, equipping young people with in-demand digital skills, strengthening artificial intelligence (AI) education and attracting investment into the country’s fast-growing digital economy.
Speaking during a series of high-level meetings held alongside the World Summit on the Information Society Forum 2026 and the AI for Good Global Summit 2026 in Geneva, Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy William Kabogo announced new collaborations with Egypt and the United States that are expected to directly benefit Kenyan youth, schools and digital entrepreneurs.
Kabogo revealed that Kenya and Egypt had agreed to fast-track the implementation of an existing Information and Communication Technology Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), shifting the agreement from policy to practical action.
Following bilateral talks with Egypt’s ICT Minister, Raafat Hendy, who is also chairing this year’s WSIS Forum, the two countries resolved to establish a joint implementation team that will convene in Nairobi within the next 45 days to begin rolling out agreed programmes.
A major outcome of the discussions is the transfer of Egypt’s successful Digital Egypt training curriculum to Kenya. The curriculum will be introduced through digital hubs being established in every ward and the government’s Jitume Digital Hubs, providing thousands of young Kenyans with market-relevant digital skills.
The initiative is expected to improve employability among youth by offering practical training in emerging fields such as software development, digital services, cybersecurity, data analytics and other technology-driven careers that continue to experience growing demand globally.
Kabogo noted that investing in digital skills remains one of the government’s key priorities as Kenya seeks to create employment opportunities through the digital economy rather than relying solely on traditional sectors.
The Cabinet Secretary also held discussions with a senior United States delegation where both sides explored opportunities to deepen cooperation in expanding nationwide digital connectivity, developing youth digital skills and attracting investment into Kenya’s technology sector.
The talks further focused on collaboration in artificial intelligence policy development and initiatives aimed at ensuring children remain safe while using digital platforms.
According to Kabogo, the discussions have already progressed beyond dialogue, with follow-up engagements underway to translate the commitments into concrete projects that will support Kenya’s digital transformation agenda.
The partnerships are expected to enhance internet access in underserved regions, stimulate innovation, encourage foreign investment in technology and create new opportunities for startups and digital businesses.
Kenya also received international recognition during the AI for Good Global Summit after pupils from public schools emerged among winners of the global Giga robotics competition.
The Kenyan learners showcased working robots designed to solve practical challenges within their communities, competing successfully against teams from Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa.
Their achievement highlights the growing impact of government investments in science, technology and innovation within public education.
Kenya is currently among five African pilot countries participating in the International Telecommunication Union-led programme implemented in partnership with Giga, Google and the I Am Angel Foundation. The initiative seeks to develop a scalable model for AI and robotics education that can be replicated across the continent.
Kabogo said the programme is already bearing fruit through the government’s Last Mile Connectivity to Schools Programme, under which 788 public schools have already been connected to the internet.
The government targets connecting 1,000 schools by December before progressively extending connectivity to every public school in Kenya by 2030.
Improved digital connectivity is expected to transform learning by enabling access to online educational resources, virtual laboratories, coding programmes and AI-based learning tools, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
Kabogo observed that Africa’s youthful population presents enormous opportunities, noting that by 2050, one in every three young people globally will be African. He said preparing learners with digital, AI and robotics skills today will position Kenya’s youth to become innovators, entrepreneurs and creators of technology rather than merely consumers.
He congratulated the Kenyan pupils for their outstanding performance on the global stage, saying their success demonstrates the country’s growing potential to become a regional leader in artificial intelligence, robotics and digital innovation.
The latest engagements reinforce Kenya’s broader ambition of building an inclusive digital economy that creates jobs, attracts global technology investment and equips citizens with the skills needed to compete in the rapidly evolving global digital marketplace.
